Under His Wings
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Psalm 91:4
God is attentive to the needs of his children. And he is aware of your fears. Like a mother bird hides her young under the protective covering of her wings, so God shields you with his faithfulness. It is here “you will find refuge.”
When David hid from Saul in a cave, he drew comfort from the truth this same image conveys:
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by. (Psalm 57:1)
Of course, we know that God does not have arms like a man or wings like a bird. These figures of speech are employed to remind us how much our God loves, cares, and holds us up in times of trial. He covers us with His wings to protect us from the storms of life, which are usually unpredictable.
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent. (Psalm 91:10)
The unpredictability is usually at least part of the reason fear accompanies loss. Sometimes it precedes it. “I see what’s coming, and I’m afraid.” Other times, it follows. “What now?!” Most often, it’s all three. Before, during, and after the finality of the loss, fear creeps in. But when you are fearful you can hide in him.
Run to God, not away from him. His strong, loving protection will surround you, as Moses testifies, “The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). The expressive words “everlasting arms” illustrate the Creator’s strong protection and tender care.
This is the careful attention you can count on from the Lord. He knows your sorrows. He knows your fears. He knows you are tired and weary. And he has promised to keep you safe. The Lord is your hiding place.
Are you hiding safely in him? Are you resting under his wings?
***This article is a chapter excerpt from the 50-day devotional A SMALL BOOK FOR THE HURTING HEART: Meditations on Loss, Grief, and Healing.
